John Terry is ‘frustrated’ at not having the chance to coach Chelsea
The old one Chelsea Captain John Terry says he is “hurt” at being overlooked for the caretaker role after Enzo Maresca left as head coach in January.
Terry, who works two days a month as a part-time adviser at Chelsea’s academy, was not included in the staff appointed to take charge of the games against Manchester City and Fulham after Maresca’s sudden exit.
Full-time Under-21 coach Calum McFarlane has been appointed interim manager after Maresca left the club following a dramatic disagreement.
Current coach Liam Rosenior later took over the role on a permanent basis after joining sister club Strasbourg.
Asked by the Golf Life YouTube channel, outside if he was upset by the decision, Terry replied: “I’m not upset, maybe more frustrated, because I was really part of that under-21 team that went through.
“So even if I didn’t take the team… Calum took the team, he did really well, he got the result out of the game. I feel like I should have been a part of that.
“Now listen, people have to make decisions. I like it when people make decisions and say ‘yes’ or ‘no’. Obviously the ownership, whoever made those decisions – the sports directors – have said ‘no’ to exclude me, for whatever reason. I don’t know why.
On the sidelines, BBC Sport understands that part of Terry’s frustration stems from completing all his coaching qualifications up to the Uefa Pro Licence, while he has a FIFA diploma in leadership.
He has worked as assistant head coach to Dean Smith – now in charge of FC Charlotte in the United States – while playing for Aston Villa and Leicester City.
Terry now manages an intramural team of six players in the Baller League, called the 26ers.
McFarlane, by contrast, currently only has a Uefa B licence. However, officials felt he was the perfect interim option, given his regular involvement with Maresca in his under-21 role. His team also played a program similar to Maresca’s, it sounds like he will go in comfortably.
Since then he has impressed Rosenior and earned a promotion from his first team staff.
Terry has widely expressed his frustration at the lack of coaching opportunities, including in an interview with BBC Sport last year, having applied for a number of roles in the English Football League.
“It’s really disappointing, actually. I’ve interviewed for a few jobs myself and I didn’t get it because of my lack of experience as a number one, but having been the captain of Chelsea and my country, I’m not sure you can do much about leading teams and people,” Terry told BBC Sport in March.
“I’m ready and willing. I don’t see the need to sell John Terry as a manager or a coach or anything. If someone needs to win football games, I’m not sure anyone will get better. If you want to keep losing football games, keep doing what you’re doing.”
The scope of Terry’s role at Chelsea is limited to the academy teams, and he has little contact with first-team players, apart from those who have graduated from the academy, such as current captain Reece James.
